Java Enum values() method

I remember there being a values() method that provides all possible values of an Enumerated Type in Java. I checked the javadoc¹ and couldn't find it...

But it exists.

Which is weird.

Luckily, someone else had the same problem and asked it in [2].

I was intriged so I looked up the Language Spec³. Yes, the method is available in each and every Enum class, but it is 'especially' inserted by the compiler and not inherited from the superclass⁴.

Luckily in the javadoc¹, values() and valueOf(String) methods are both mentioned in the description of the valueOf(Class<T> , String) method (nowadays).

References

[1] Javadoc - Enum

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Enum.html

[2] CodeRanch - Values method documented Enum

http://www.coderanch.com/t/559674/java/java/values-method-documented-Enum

[3] Oracle - The Java Language Specification (Java 8)

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/jls8.pdf

[4] Oracle Java Tutorials - Enum Types

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/javaOO/enum.html